Medical marijuana. Same-sex marriage. These used to be taboo political subjects but no more.

Almost half of Florida voters support gay marriage. 70 percent are okay with legalizing medical marijuana. Those are significant swings of support from just a few years ago. How are Floridan attitudes toward cultural issues changing? What’s the political impact at the ballot box in this gubernatorial election year? Former governor Bob Graham and George LeMieux, who spearheaded Charlie Crist's gubernatorial campaign, give us their take.

The Sunshine Edition

11:24 pm

Mon April 28, 2014

Somewhere on the quality scale between Internet scuttlebutt and peer-reviewed research, you'll find the case for medical marijuana. It relies mostly on the recent discovery of the endo-cannabinoid system, an elaborate network of brain receptors that are activated by the components of marijuana to send comfort and cure to the human body.

Mon April 21, 2014

Before there was a constitutional amendment to legalize marijuana in Florida on this coming November ballot, there was West Broward Representative Katie Edwards.

She represents parts of Davie, Plantation and Sunrise.

A democrat from District 98 with a background in agriculture and applied economics -- along with a law degree -- Edwards first made a legislative effort to address the possibility of medical marijuana in 2013.

On The Florida Roundup: The Florida State Supreme Court allows a proposal to legalize medical marijuana to appear on the November ballot. We’ll see how that could affect the governor’s race.

Governor Rick Scott has a $72.4 billion dollar spending plan for the state: the biggest cut was to the state agency that runs the Medicaid program because the state won’t be receiving federal money under the Affordable Care Act. What will that mean for the approximately 3 million Medicaid recipients in Florida?

Politics

6:24 pm

Wed January 15, 2014

A strain of marijuana that doesn't get users high has been found to help children who suffer from chronic seizures. The strain, known as Charlotte's Web, is currently available only in Colorado. Lawmakers are considering a proposal to make the strain legal in Florida.

Links

8:51 am

Fri December 27, 2013

I'm digital editor here, and this week I was particularly proud of the WLRN news team for a policy-changing story that made it to our top five. You may have heard us talk about it on the Florida Roundup last week: A majority African-American school in Jacksonville will change its name, currently that of an early Ku Klux Klan leader. Find the details below, but not before the top story of the week:

The organization trying to legalize medical marijuana in Florida is baffled and annoyed by a PolitiFact conclusion that their proposal would create one of the least regulated environments for medical marijuana in the country.

Medical Marijuana

10:20 pm

Thu December 5, 2013

The state Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday for and against legalizing medical marijuana. Their decision will determine whether a proposed state constitutional amendment will get on the ballot next November.

If the amendment is approved, it would allow doctors to prescribe pot under Florida law. It would also allow registered, regulated marijuana businesses to cultivate, transport, and sell the drug.